One Neighborhood Holding Up New Walking Trail

Fairhope, Alabama

ALONG NORTH US HWY 98 

Proposed Hwy 98 trail (green line)
The Times has learned the new biking/walking trail along the east side of N. Hwy 98 is being held up over objections from The Woodlands neighborhood about its location -- and concerns it may bring what another area-resident calls "undesirables" wandering  into their neighborhood.

The two mile long, 8' wide, multi-purpose, asphalt path first-proposed in 2013 was to connect Montrose Woods Dr. north of Rock Creek with the existing Eastern Shore Trail on Scenic 98 at Hwy 104.

A federal Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant for $500K was applied for in 2013 (granted 2014); the city's matching share was to be $100K for the original design including an 80 ft. steel arch-truss bridge over Fly Creek with 150' boardwalks on each side.


RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS DENIED?

According to a discussion at a previous council work session, The Woodlands homeowners association is denying the use of some of their right of way (green in the photo below) for the trail in an existing electrical utility easement south of their entrance, Woodlands Drive.  The city owns the property north of the road.

Mayor Kant recently told the Times he is bringing two new alternative designs for the trail to the city council for its consideration/decision, which could be much more costly than the original design.

The city would have to pay the additional costs.

At a work session late last year,  councilman Burrell mentioned moving it to the west side of the highway.

(Possibly item 4 on Monday's 4:30 PM work-session agenda. Look for updates here).



Woodlands HOA property in green (north is up)









Comments

Anonymous said…
Woodlands is the ONLY nice neighborhood in Fairhope. I don't blame them. People are rude and would be cutting through their yards and creeping around their houses. People have no regards for others and with that said, I say good for you Woodlands. You don't want to be another rock creek.
Anonymous said…
I worry more about keeping the undesirables IN the Woodlands ... .
Anonymous said…
Some Woodlanders are already in trouble with the Feds about their "emergency" drainage project ....
Anonymous said…
WOW SOME ONE HAS PERSONAL ISSUES WITH PEOPLE IN WOODLANDS . I THOUGHT SLANDER WAS NOT ALLOWED ON HERE
Anonymous said…
This is most definitely NOT accurate. We've been working with the city for over a year now and have never "denied access". Along with city officials, we've been looking into the best route to preserve the beauty and safety of our entrance/neighborhood, as we should!
Anonymous said…
working for over a year? why so long? just stop being so selfish and let them use the property for the good of the whole community.
Publisher said…
The Times is well aware of allegations of irregularities with the recently-completed federal emergency drainage project in the Woodlands and Plantation Pines neighborhoods.

The situation is still developing and we are monitoring it closely ... .
Anonymous said…
Sounds to me like someone is using the Woodlands as an excuse to move the path across Hwy 98. Could it be the builders of the 6 new 3 story apartments they want to build behind Publix? You know the hundreds of extra cars coming out Parker Road every day would have a difficult time dodging walkers, bikes, tricycles, baby carriages, dogs and golf carts. Makes using the system easier if you have someone to blame.
Anonymous said…
when we moved to Fairhope I would ride around aimlessly looking for homes and although Woodlands was out of our price range it by far was the nicest neighborhood. The other neighborhoods as an outsider are so strange . Rock Creek is awful and ugly. The woodlands has beautiful homes and quaint at the same time If I lived there I would not want all of the foot traffic either and no one else would either. Your home is your sanctuary and you want to feel safe. Anyone that says different is lying . Just a lot of jealousy out there. If it were your home you would not want people cutting through either.
Anonymous said…
No one is being kept out of the woodlands. Lots of talk about a walkway and no action. None of it has to do with the residents. The residents ARE against 800 apartments behind the Publix which is a change from single family residents and townhomes originally proposed.

Maybe Woodlands is being set up as snobby before the latest Planning Board meeting where the Publix apartment is being brought up again without changes by the Fairhope "powers that be" Evidently, it doesn't matter what tax payers want... apartment dwellers use without contributing to funding the infrastructure.
Anonymous said…
Does council man Boon still live there? Any body know?
Bocephus said…
Keep the undesirables out? Define "undesirable" then. These people on their high horses seem like the ones that are "undesirable" to me. Hmmm Makes me want to load up a bus of a bunch of my people, and drive out there to just "walk around" on the sidewalks. If "undesirables" want to come out there, I assure you they won't be taking the healthy option of walking out there. This sounds like class segregation to me. I think the city needs to flex some legal muscle and set this right.
Anonymous said…
If it were your house you would not want ANYONE wandering in and through your space . The city does not have a say unless it is their land in which it is not. I do not live in this neighborhood but I did live near a neighborhood pond and let me tell you , people would wander through my yard right beside my house and just look around. Kids across the street would pee in my bushes, when I confronted the mother she told me to get a fence for my front yard . Instead of making her kids mind . The kids ruled that house it was very clear. No discipline!! I had the same kids looking in my windows....just out of control. Playing on my deck! No one wants to live like that or the possibility of that. Everyone wants their privacy, heck , the people in question had a six foot fence , now that is funny!
Anonymous said…
Golf Carts are not allowed
Anonymous said…
yeah , well neither are bikes on the sidewalk but you have them run you off or fly buy daily. People do not follow rules.